Veteran players: UT needs attitude

Veteran players: UT needs attitude

1of6Longhorns senior running back Malcolm Brown says the last time he was on a team that felt unbeatable wasn't with Texas — it was with the Steele Knights.Photo: TOM REEL

2of6Longhorn receiver John Harris (9) beats Bear cornerback Xavien Howard long down the left but can't make the catch as UT hosts Baylor at Royal Memorial Stadium on October 4, 2014.Photo: TOM REEL

3of6Longhorn quarterback Tyrone Swoopes goes down just shy of the goal line in the second quarter as UT hosts Baylor at Royal Memorial Stadium on October 4, 2014.Photo: TOM REEL

4of6Shock Linwood racks up yards in the second half for the Bears as UT hosts Baylor at Royal Memorial Stadium on October 4, 2014.Photo: TOM REEL

5of6Bear quarterback Bryce Petty twists away from tacklers in the second half as UT hosts Baylor at Royal Memorial Stadium on October 4, 2014.Photo: TOM REEL

6of6Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty lays out a pass in the second half as UT hosts Baylor at Royal Memorial Stadium on October 4, 2014.Photo: TOM REEL

AUSTIN — Four seasons into his career at one of the proudest, most successful programs in college football history, Texas tailback Malcolm Brown stood in front of his teammates and talked about the last time he was part of a team that felt invincible.

It was in high school.

“I can't tell you a game (at Steele) where I wasn't like, 'Man, we're just going to smash them,'” Brown said. “I told the team last week, I honestly didn't think we have that kind of confidence.”

As the Longhorns limp into a Red River Rivalry game against No. 11 Oklahoma this week, the most pertinent question is not why some players don't feel like they should be unbeatable. Instead, it's why any of them feel they should be.

Not a single player in UT's locker room has won 10 college games in a season. Not a single one has finished a season ranked higher than 19th in the country. And according to senior cornerback Quandre Diggs, not nearly enough of them believe they ever will.

“I don't think we've got all the guys expecting to win,” Diggs said. “I know we're young, but that's no excuse. I guess everybody doesn't have that dog in 'em.”

The lack of that “dog,” Diggs said, is the biggest reason the Longhorns (2-3, 1-1 Big 12) find themselves in danger of their worst six-game start to a season since 1956. Diggs said the talent, the preparation and the coaching are fine. The attitude is a different story.

“It upsets me,” said Diggs, who has 23 tackles, a sack and two interceptions this year. “You're out here playing a man's game, you've got to have some type of that in you. When I don't see it, it disappoints me.”

Of course, the Longhorns have bigger issues than just a lack of aggression. Sophomore quarterback Tyrone Swoopes had an abysmal outing in last week's loss to Baylor, completing 16 of 34 passes for 144 yards with two interceptions, and the offensive line remains an inexperienced mess.

Then there is the kicking game, which has been a prolonged disaster. The latest blows came against the Bears, who returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown and prolonged an important second-half drive with a fake punt.

But Strong said Monday he isn't benching struggling kicker Nick Rose, and he's sticking with Swoopes. The only other scholarship quarterback on UT's roster is freshman Jerrod Heard, who Strong and offensive play-caller Shawn Watson said is not even close to being game-ready.

“We have what we have,” Strong said. “It's not like we can change much.”

So with that in mind, players are trying to change. Like Brown and Diggs, senior linebacker Jordan Hicks said the Longhorns lack confidence, particularly when things start to turn against them.

“Some people are expecting, 'Oh, something's going to go wrong, and we're just waiting for it,'” Hicks said. “(That's) instead of going out with the mindset like, 'We're going to completely demolish this team.'”

But Hicks said it's not too late for the Longhorns to change it.

“We have to be on the same page, like we're going to go out and destroy people,” Hicks said. “It can't be a passive mentality.”

Harrison still in limbo: Strong said he had no update on the status of offensive tackle Desmond Harrison, who's missed all five games this season while serving a suspension for violating team rules. Strong said wide receiver Daje Johnson, who returned from a suspension last week, injured his hamstring and is questionable for the OU game.

Mike Finger has worked for the Express-News since 1999, writing about the Texas Longhorns, the Big 12, the NBA and the NFL before becoming a sports columnist. He's covered 13 Spurs postseasons, six Final Fours and more than a dozen college bowl games.